Another inter-state ATM robber in police net

Cuttack: Commissionerate Police arrested Krishna Gopal (20), another key member of a high-tech inter-state ATM robbers’ criminal gang involved in a series of loot incidents in Odisha as well as other parts of the country.

Earlier, Odisha police had nabbed his partner Ajay Choudhry from Uttarakhand on March 26.

Krishna, a science graduate had recently enrolled for a MBA degree from a Kanpur-based college. He had teamed up with Ajay and other associates to target ATMs in a unique way.

Police had nabbed Krishna from New Delhi for his alleged involvement in connection with the loot of Rs 17.48 lakh from the Corporation Bank ATM near High Court in Cuttack on March 3.

Addressing a press conference today, Police Commissioner YB Khurania told newsmen that they are close to busting the entire gang of ATM robbers.

“Investigation reveals that it is mainly a five-member gang while we have been successful in nabbing two members, three others are still absconding,” said Khurania.

Divulging on the modus operandi of the ATM robbers, Khurania said they used a particular type of malware to neutralise the machines and later decamp with cash.

Sources said the gang mostly used a Chinese malware for the purpose and they used to reboot the ATM by running the malware through a USB drive.

It is suspected that the gang had looted over Rs 50 lakh from several ATMs in different parts of Odisha.

So far their involvement has been found in five ATM loot cases including ones at Lalbag in Cuttack, Airfield and Kharvel Nagar police station in Bhubaneswar, Town and Kumbharpada police station in Puri district.

Cash robbery from ATMs through hacking was reported for the first time this year. Commissionerate Police had earlier asked bank authorities and officials various cash loading agencies to beef up certain security measures.

“We have frozen assets to the tune of Rs 9 lakh and soon their bank lockers would be opened shortly. The duo would be shortly taken on remand for further interrogation,” Khurania added.